Ors to chisholm



(No Model.)

5 Sheets--Sheet 1. B. 0. WHITE 85 J. A; BOYD.

BRICK MACHINE.

No. 418,099. Pa tented Dec. 24, 1889.

N, PEYERS. Phnwblhngnphor. Washinginn. I], C.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

B. 0. WHITE 8%; J. BOYD.

BRICK MACHINE.

No. 418,099. PatentedDec'. 24, 1889.

- 5 Sheets--Sheet 3. B. 0. WHITE & J. A. BOYD.

BRICK MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 24, 1889.

(No Model.)

n n H M e m m I m r W w\ m E 0 1.0 0 .E 40 L MA. 1 10 3 fl w (No Model.)5. Sheets-Sheet 4.

B. 0. WHITE 86 J. A. BOYD. BRICK MACHINE.

No. 418,099. Patented Dec. 24, .1889.

N. pzvzns. Phulauthngnpher, wasmnkton, D. a

5 b e e h s b v e 6 h S D Y O B .A; N M O m E m mm B W C 3 (N0 Model.)

Patented Dec. 24, 1889.

W my m E can [Z4350 I Pholo-Lilhagnphen Walhmglon. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRUCE CLARK lVIlITE AND JAMES A. BOYD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN- ORSTO CHISHOLM, BOYD & WHITE, OF SAME PLACE.

BRICK-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 418,099, dated December24, 1889. Application filed April 10, 1888 Serial No. 270,210. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, BRUCE CLARK WHITE and JAMES A. BOYD, both, ofChicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have i11- ventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Brick-Machines; and we dohereby-declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, andto the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to that class of machines for making brick inwhich the clay to form the bricks is fed automatically to a mold ormolds, and is compressed therein by means of two opposing plungers,which are moved toward and from each other for compressing the brick,and which are also moved within the mold in such manner as to accomplishthe discharge of the finished brick therefrom.

The invention embraces improvements in machines of the characterdescribed in several particulars, as will be hereinafter fullydescribed, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating our invention, Figure 1 is afront elevation of a machine embodying the invention. Fig 2 is a rearelevation of the same. Fig. 3'is a vertical section taken upon line 3 3of Fig. 1. Fig. at is a detail section taken upon line a 4 of Fig. 3.Fig. 5isa detailsection taken upon line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Figs. 6, 7, and 8are detail sections illustrating the means for supporting and actuatingthe lower plunger, showing difierent positions of the latter. Fig. 9 isa vertical section taken upon line 9 9 of Fig. 3, showing the feed-boxin elevation. Fig. 10 is a detail side view of the feed-box and itsguides. Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating different changed positions ofthe devices by which the plungers are actuated. Fig. 12 is a detail plansection of the mold-table, taken upon line 12 12 of Fig. 3. Fig. 13illustrates a modified construction in the fulcrum for the beam 11. Fig.14 lll1l3- trates a weight employed in place of a spring to lift thelower plunger. Fig. 15 is a detail section taken upon line 17 17 of Fig.3. Fig.

sists of two heavy vertical frame-plates A A.

arranged parallel with each other at opposite sides of the machine andattached to a massive base A, which connects the said frameplates at thebottom of the machine. The

said frame-plates A A embrace two vertical standards A A affordingbearings for the vertically-movable parts of the machine, and saidframe-plates are connected with each other at the top of the frame by ahorizontal cross-girt A B is a mold-table, which is located at aconvenient distance above the base A, and is arranged horizontallybetween and bolted at its ends to the vertical standards A A of theframe. \Vithin the said mold-table are located the molds C C, of whichthe machine shown is provided with two. Said mold-table is herein shownas comprising two separate castings B B Figs. 3 and 12, located in frontand rear of the molds, which latter are formed by means ofinwardly-projecting parts B B cast upon the front and rear portions B Bof the table,meeting at the center line of the table. The castings B Bare held together by means of horizontal bolts 1) 17, passing throughsaid castings between the molds and at the ends of the castings in themanner shown. The castings B B are secured to the frame-standards A A bymeans of horizontal bolts 1) b,inserted through wings b b at the ends ofthe castings B B and through the said standards. Said parts B B of themold-table, for the purpose of giving a rigid and unyielding support tothe said table, and to prevent the same from springing or yield ing inits center under the heavy strain incident to pressing the brick, areprovided with vertical webs B B which extend downwardly to and rest orbear throughout their full length upon the frame-base A. The saidwebsare desirably extended to and fitted at their side edges against theframe-standards A A and provided with horizontal flanges at their loweredges, through which flanges and the base are inserted bolts 1),affording a rigid connection between the parts. The webs B B bolted tothe frame-base in the manner shown, serve to transmit to said base apart of the strain coming upon the table, and at the same time hold theadjacent parts rigidly and strongly from either lateral or verticaldisplacement when the machine is in action; Said webs B B are providedwith openings at points beneath the molds, in the manner shown, toafford access to the lower plungers for supplying steam thereto and forreaching the adjusting devices connected therewith, which arehereinafter described.

To afford a strong connection between the mold-table and theframe-standards A the latter are provided with notches or mortises a aat their inner faces, within which notches or mortises the ends of thecastings B B are inserted, and Within which they are held by means ofthe bolts I) Z). The castings l1 B in the particular construction shown,form the parts of the mold-table immediately adjacent to the molds.Horizontal extensions of said table at the front and rear of the molds,for the purpose of supporting the feeding devices for the clay and thefinished bricks, are form ed by a horizontal plate B at the front of themolds, which plate is bolted to the casting 5 in the manner shown, andby a second horizontal plate 13, which is located at the rear of thecasting B and is sustained at its front edge by resting upon the saidcasting B which latter is provided with a recess or rabbet to receiveit, and at its rear end by attachment at its side edges to thehorizontal girts A A Fig. 3, forming parts of the frameplates, theparticular attaching device shown consisting of inwardly-projecting lugsupon the girts, to which the said plate B is bolted at its rear corners,in the mannerillustrated.

D D are a series of plungers constructed to enter and slide in the upperparts of the molds C C, said plungers being attached to a horizontalcross-head D, located above the mold-table B. I

E E are lower plunger-s constructed to slide in the molds C O, andsupported by a single rigid cross -head E, located beneath saidmold-table.

F F are two heavy Vertical bars, which are mounted in guide-surfaces aa, formed in the inner faces of the frame-standards A A engagingcorresponding guide-surfaces upon the bars. Said bars extend from apoint near the bottom of themachine, through the ends of the mold-tableB, to points near the upper ends of the frame-standards A The bars areheld or guided at two points only, one at the top of thefrainc-standards and the other just above the mold-table, theguide-surfaces a a being relatively short and located at these placesonly. At their parts below the mold-table the slide-bars are free fromthe standards and are without guides, any bearing-surfaces at thesepoints being undesirable from the fact that the clay and dirt whichfalls from the mold-table is liable to cover or enter between thesurfaces in contact in case any guides are present. At their lower endsthe said bars F F are provided with inwardly-extending projections f f,entering notches or rabbets e ein the ends of the cross-head E, the barsbeing attached to the cross-head by means ofbolts passing through thesaid bars and engaging the cross-head. The slide-bars are held in placeat the middle guides by means of detachable parts a a which are boltedtothe front edges of the frame-standards and form the front walls of theguideways. At the top of the frame the slide-bars are held in place bythe cross-girt A which is secured at its ends to the frame-standards insuch manner that its inner face forms the bearings for the edges of theslide-bars. The upper cross-head D has bearings at its ends against andis vertically-guided both by the slide-bars and by the surfaces ct a. Asmore clearly shown in Fig. 5, the end surfaces of the said cross-headare fitted to slide against the inner faces of the slide-bars, whilesaid cross-head is provided near its front face with two verticalflanges d d, which extend past or overlap and bear against the frontedges of the said slide-bars.

G G are toggle-arms, which are pivoted, respectively, to the upper endsof the slidebars F F and to the upper cross-head D. The upper end of theupper toggle-arm G is desirably made the full width of the space betweenthe slide-bars F F, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and saidtoggle-arm is pivotally connected with the said slide-bars by means of aheavy pivot-pin G fixed at its ends in the slide-bars and extendingthrough a long bearing-aperture in the toggle-arm. The lower togglearm Gis constructed to enter a recess in the upper surface of the crossheadD, and is pivotally connected with the latter by means of a pivot-pin Ginserted through bearing-apertures in opposite ends of said cross-headand in the lower end of said toggle-arm.

The toggle-arms G G are pivotally connected with each other by means ofa heavy pin G, inserted through the Y overlapping forked ends of saidtoggle-arms, said pin being also adapted to engage a heavy beam H, bywhich power is applied to the toggle-arms. Said beam engages thecenterof the pin G and the toggle-arms are centrally recessed to affordspace for the entrance of the end of said beam between their parts inbearing with the pin, in the manner illustrated in the drawings.

I is a heavy crank-shaft mounted in bearings a a in the frame-plates AA,said crankshaft being located approximately in the same horizontal planewith the pivot-pin G and some distance to the rear of the togglearms.Said crank-shaft is provided with a heavy crank-pin I, with which thebeam H is engaged. The said crankshaft I is so disposedwith relation tothe toggle-arms G G that in the rotation of said shaft said togglearmswill be alternately straightened out and flexed by the action of thecrank and beam. Said parts are so disposed, furthermore, that thetogglearms will be straightened out or brought into alignment with eachother at the time the crank-pin is at the extreme limit of its throwaway from the toggle-arms.

The beam H is herein shown as provided with a bearing h, engaged withthe crank-pin I, which bearing is provided with an adj ustable cap it,located at the top of the beam, the end of the beam being extendedbeneath the crank-pin and made heavy and strong at this point in themanner illustrated. Beneath the crank-pin is desirably placed anadjustable bearing block 71 beneath which may be placed a thicker orthinner plate or shim h or other adjusting device by which the block maybe adjusted vertically toward or from the beam. The adjustment of theblock 7L2 obviously changes the vertical position of the end of the beamengaged with the crank-pin, and also with that engaged with thetogglearms, so that a means isthus provided for adjusting the verticalpositions of the plungers, the vertical movement of which latter iscontrolled by said beam in a manner hereinafter more particularlypointedout. The action of the toggle in forcing the plungers toward each otherobviously tends to thrust both the upper ends of the slidebars and theupper crosshead horizontally toward the rear. By reason of the presenceof the flanges cl d of the said cross-head in bearing against the frontedges of the slide-bars, however, such horizontal component of theoblique pressure of the toggle-arms is taken by the upper and middleparts of the slide-bars, instead of coming partially on the bars andpartially on the framestandards through the cross-head.

J is a pin or shaft mounted horizontally in the frame-plates A A beneaththe beam H,"

and having its ends secured in two hubs a a upon the frame-plates. Uponsaid shaft are mounted two vertically-arranged oscillating arms J J,which are made concave upon their upper ends, and are adapted to engagethe ends of a heavy pin H, which is secured in the beam I-l between itsends, and preferably nearer that end of the beam engaged with thetoggles G G.

J is a roller mounted upon the shaft J between the arms J J, and adaptedto engage the lower surface or edge of the said beam H. we have shown inthe accompanying drawings the said beam H as provided in its lowersurface with a separate cam-block H bolted to that part of the beamwhich comes in contact with the roller J the purpose of said block beingto take the wear from the edge of the beam. Said cam-block will commonlybe made of harder metal than the beam, and it may be removed andreplaced by a new one when worn to such an extent as to interfere withthe accurate movements of the parts.

J 3 J 3 are arms or prongs attached to the said arms J J and extendingupwardly at the rear of the pin H, and j 9', Figs. 15 and 16, are twostops upon the arms J, adapted to engage a pin or lug j upon the hub aof the frame. The stops 3' j limit the forward and backward oscillatingmovement of the arms J J while the prongs J J serve by engagement withthe pin H to insure the throwing of said arms backwardly or to therearward limit of their movement and in position for engagement with thesaid pin H after the latter has been moved so as to become disengagedfrom the arms, in the manner hereinafter set forth. The rocking arms J Jand the roller J 2 engage the beam H as the latter is moved in theturning of the crank-shaft, and serve as fulcrums or points of supportfor the beam, so that the latter operates as it is moved by thecrank-shaft to raise and lower the toggle-arms, the slide bars, theupper and lower cross-heads, and plungers. A vertical movement is thusgiven to the upper and lower plungers for discharging the brick from themold and for moving the brick within the mold to smooth and polish theedges of the brick during the compression of the same, and to enable theclay to be fed to the molds, as will hereinafter more fully appear. Theparts thus arranged to form a fulcrum for the beam H are liable to besubjected to a very heavy strain in lifting the plungers within themolds at the time the compression of the brick is taking place, and

in order to give suitable strength and rigidity to the frame and totransmit a part of the strain directly to the mold-table verticalinwardly-extending flanges a a are cast upon the frame-standards inposition to extend from the hubs a a downwardly to points above thetable. ably. extended inwardly from the frameplates, and the flanges a aare arranged to sustain the inner ends of said hubs, as well as to giverigidity to the frame, Figs. 15'

and 16.

As an additional and further means of giving rigidity to the frame towithstand the downward strain brought upon the pin J in lifting theplungers in the mold, we place a sleeve J 4 about the pin J, between thehubs a a of the frame, the ends of said sleeve being placed in contactwith the inner ends of the hub, and we extend the ends of said pinoutside of the frame-plates and place upon the ends thereof nuts j j inbearing against washers j 3' which overlap the adjacent outer surfacesof the frame-plates. It is entirely obvious that when a heavy downwardstrain is brought upon the middle of the pin J the effect will be todepress the middle part of the pin, thereby drawing together the hubs.The presence of the sleeve J 4 between the hubs will obviously preventany springing of the side plates under a strain of the characterdescribed. Said sleeve furthermore gives additional stiffness to the pinbetween the The said hubs are desirhubs, and also affords abearing-surface to its surface becomes too much worn for fur-' ther use.

K is a heavy drive wheel affixed to the shaft I outside of theframe-plate A. Said drive-wheel is provided with peripheral cogs, whichengage a pinion K, mounted upon a stud K located at the rear part of theframe, said stud having upon it a belt-pulley K over which may be placeda driving-belt for transmitting power to the machine.

L .is a sliding feed-box, which rests and slides upon the top of themold-table B at the rear side of the molds. Said feed-box consists of ahorizontal plate or casting provided at its end adjacent to the moldswith rectangular openings L L, corresponding in horizontal dimensionsand in number with the molds O C. The openings L L are closed at theirbottoms by the mold-table upon which the feed-box rests, except when thefeed-box is moved forward to bring said openings ox er the molds. Uponthe surface of the mold-table, at either side of the feed-box, areformed two outwardly and downwardly inclined or beveled surfaces 19 bthe upper edges of which are in vertical alignment with the outersurfaces of the side walls of the feed-box. The mold-table is hereinshown as provided with grooves or depressions exterior to said beveledsurfaces 6 b but said table may be otherwise constructed to afford saidbeveled surfaces, as may be found convenient or desirable. The spacebetween said beveled surfaces, however, forms in effect a flat surfaceelevated above the adjacent parts of the mold-table. The said beveledsurfaces Z1 b are extended from the rear end of the mold-table to apoint somewhat forward of the front edges of the molds.

At each side of the feed-box is located a vertical plate L the loweredge of which is beveled and fits against the beveled surface 12 of thetable. Said plates L are made vertically adjustable upon the feed-box,and for this purpose are herein shown as attached to the sides of thebox by means of bolts Z, passing through vertical slots Z in the plates.

As a means of more positively holding the plates L from verticalmovement, and for more accurately adjusting the same,vertically-arranged set-screws Z having squared heads, are inserted inoverhanging flanges L at the upper edges of the feed-box, in suchposition as to hear at their lower ends against the upper edges of theplates L L 13y adj ustin g said set-screws Z Z up and down the plates Lmay be made to bear with greater or less pressure upon the obliquebearing-surfaces U 1), as may be found convenient or desirable. Inpractice the said plates L L will be forced downwardly to such an extentas to lift the feed-box very slightly above its seat, so that the weightof the box will come upon the said plates and the obliquebearing-surfaces.

In the use of a feed-box resting upon the horizontal top surface of thefeed-table it is found almost impossible to retain the feedbox inbearing contact with the table, owing to the accumulation of claybetween the bearing-surfaces, which clay firmlyadheres thereto, and asit accumulates gradually raises the feed-box from its natural position.

In the use of beveled surfaces such as are here illustrated any claygetting between the oblique bearing-surfaces and the edges of the platesL L will be scraped or rubbed from the bearing-surfaces by thelatter,and will fall or slide downwardly away from the upper part ofsaid oblique bearing-surfaces, so that the latter will always remainclear and in condition to allow the smooth and accurate action of thefeed-box.

M is a stationary feed-hopper located over the sliding feed-box L at apoint adjacent to the upper plungers D. Said hopper is herein shown assustained by means of lugs mm upon the sides of the hopper, which arebolted to the vertical flanges a a of the framestandards A A Said hopperis fitted closely at its lower edges to the horizontal top surface ofthe feed-box in a manner heretofore common. Said feed-box L hasa'horizontal reciprocatory motion through a distance sufficientto carrythe openings L L over the molds O O and under the feed-hopper. Whenbeneath the hopper, the feed-box receives material from the same, andsuch material is discharged into the molds when the feed-box is movedforward.

At the rear of the receptacle L L the feed-box is provided with a smoothhorizontal top surface L Figs. 3 and 10, which extends the .full widthof the feed box and is somewhat longer than the distance through whichthe latter travels in operation. Said surface L is for the purpose ofsupporting material within the hopper during the time the feedbox isbeing moved forwardly to carry the clay to the molds.

For the purpose of keeping clean the top surface L of said feed-box weattach to the rear margin of the hopper M a scraper M, consisting of astrip of thin flexible sheet metal secured to the vertical face of thehopper by screws on m, or otherwise, and bearing at an angle at its freeedge against the top surface of the feed-box. A scraper thus arrangedacts with a constant pressure, and will tend to remain sharp by reasonof the wearing away of its edge in contact with the surface of thefeed-box. \Ve have shown a similar scraperL as applied to the rear edgeof the feed-box, and as bearing upon the top surface of the mold-tablefor the purpose of keeping the latter clean. Said scraper L is shown asattached to the feed-box by means of screws Z Z in the same manner asbefore described in connection with the scraper M.

Means are provided for giving reciprocatory motion to the feed-box inthe machine, illustrated as follows: N is a rock-shaft mounted at itsends in the frame plates A A and provided with an upwardly-extending armN, which engages a cam K upon the drive-wheel K, and with two dependingarms N 2 N which are connected by pitmen N N with the opposite sides ofthe feed-boX, in the manner clearly shown in the drawings, Figs. 2 and3. The cam K is a grooved cam adapted to engage a roller n upon the armN, and is so shaped as to advance the feedbox over the molds at the timethe upper plunger is lifted above the same, as will hereinafter morefully appear.

The operation of the main parts of the machine constructed as abovedescribed is as follows: The clay is fed to the hopper M through tubes Mpreferably in a slightly moist and pulverulent condition. The clay fromwithin the said hopper fills the recesses of the feed-box when thelatter is at the rearward limit of its movement, and is carried forwardby said feed-box and deposited in the molds. At the time the feed-boxmoves for ward to fill the molds the upper plungers are lifted to apoint above the top. surface of the scend.

- the brick.

feed-box, so as to allow the latter to pass beneath said plungers. Afterthe clay has been deposited in the molds the feed-box is retracted bythe action of the cam K and the plungers D and E are then brought towardeach other within the molds for compressing The compression of the brickis produced solely by the action of the togglearms operating through themedium of the slide-bars F F and the upper and lowercrossheads D and E.The vertical position of the plungers within the molds at the time ofcompressing the brick is, however, determined by the action of the beamH, rocking arms J J, and roller J the Weight of the cross-heads,toggle-arms, and connected parts being sustained by the said beam,rocking arms, and roller during this operation. NVe have so constructedthe said parts in the particular machine shown that the greatestcompression of the brick takes place at or near the middle of the moldsand during the time both sets of plungers are moving upwardly therein.After the brick has been compressed the plungers D and E are separatedby the reverse movement of the toggle-arms, while the lower plunger islifted by the action of the beam, the crank, and rocking-arms, so as toforce the finished brick upwardly out of the molds. The compressed brickare thrust from their position upon the tops of thelower plungers by theaction of the forward edge or end surface of the feed-box as it advancesto fill the molds, such advance movement of the feed-box for thispurpose being timed to take place before the lower plungers de A brickhaving a much more uniformly smooth surface at its side edges and endsis produced when the clay is moved bodily within the mold during thetime that compression is tak ing place, it being a wellknown fact thatii the clay remains stationary and the plungers advance at equal speedtoward each other the brick will have a rough or granulated appearanceat a line along the middle of the edge and end of the brick. We have soconstructed the parts of, the machine shown, therefore, that theplungers are moved within the mold during the process of compression, sothat the clay at the edges of the brick is carried along the side wallsof the mold, which act thereon with a smoothing or slicking action. Toproduce a movement of the plungers in the manner stated, we so arrangethe actuating devices that the upper plunger first moves downwardly fromits position when the mold is filled with clay until it enters the mold,so that the clay is brought under considerable pressure before thebeginning of the upward movement of both plungers and subjected to thegreatest pressure while both plungers are moving upwardly through themolds; It follows from this mode of operation of the parts that the claywhich is to form the side edges and ends of the brick is moved bodilyupward along the side walls of the mold during the entire time thatcompression is taking place, with the result of smoothing the surface ofthe brick, in the manner above stated. It has been proposed heretoforeto give vertical movement to the plungers of a brick-machine by means ofconnectin g rods or beams connecting the toggles with a crank-shaft,which connecting rods or beams are arranged to bear upon rollers formingfulcrums by which the lifting is accom plished. We have found, however,that the power required to move the plungers within the mold at the timethe brick is under com pression is very great, and in the use ofroller-fulcrums such as are above described the strain upon the beam androllers is so great as to produce much friction and cause rapid wearingaway of the rollers and of thesurface of the beam in bearing therewith.The rocking arms J are intended to take from the roller J 2 the pressureof the beam at the time when the brick is being subjected to pressure,the said arms J being made of such length as to sustain the beam clearof the roller J 2 during the time mentioned. After the plungers haveseparated to release the pressure upon the brick, however, the upwardbodily movement of the plungers and connected parts for the fulldischarge of the brick may be accomplished by engagement of the roller Jwith the beam. The arms J, or equivalent depending arms or links,hereinafter described, may be so arranged as to engage and sustain thebeam H through a greater or less portion of its horizontal movement, asdesired, andin some instances it may be found convenient to dispensewith the roller J and produce the required vertical movement of theplungers and connected parts solely by the action of the rocking arm orlink. A construction of this latter kind is illustrated in connectionwith a suspended link in Fig. 13 of the drawings.

The operation of the beam, rocking arms,

and roller in lifting the plungers may be more readily understoodbycrefercnce to Figs. 3 and 11. In Fig. 3 the parts are shown with theplungers at the point of greatest com pression and moving upwardly, thebeam ll being at the farthest limit of its throw away from the togglesand the togglearms in alignment with each other. The downward movementof the crank-pin I, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, is obviouslyacting to lift the toggles, plui'igers, and connected parts, the beam atthis time being supported by iheengagement of the pin H with the rockingarms J. By reason of the pressure upon the brick the plungers can bemoved upwardly at this time only by the exertion of a considerabledegree of force; but a sufficientamount of power is clearly provided forby the leverage exerted bythe beamll as the latter is turned aboutthe'pivot ll, while the heavy downward pressure of the beamistransmitted to the framethrough the medium of the rocking arms J andshaft J. The required rigidity in the frame to sustain the strain uponthe parts at this time is further provided'for by means of the verticalribs a" a which extend from the hubs a supporting the rock-shaft J,downwardly to the 'moldtable B, in the manner hereinbefore stated. Asthe movements of the parts are continued past the position shown .inFig. 3,

the upper and 'lower plnngers will be lifted by the upward movement ofthe end of the beamengaging the toggles, while at the same time saidplungers will be separated under the horizontal movement of the beam inadirection to flex said toggles, the position of the parts when thecrankarm has moved through about sixty degrees from its horizontalposition being shown in full lines in Fig. 11. At this time the plungerswill have been considerably elevated and the lower plunger will be nearthe top of the mold, while the roller J has come in contact with thelower surface of the beam and the pin II. is about to leave or becomedisengaged from the rocking arms J. After the parts have passed theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 11 there will be comparativelylittle resistance to the upward movement of the plungers, excepting thatdue to the weight of the parts. The position of the said parts when thebeam H is at the extreme limit of its throw toward the toggles is shownin dotted lines in Fig. 1], the toggles in thisposition of the partsbeing flexed to the. greatest extent and the upper plunger liftedsufficiently above the mold-table to allow the passage beneath it of thefeed-box. The lower plungers must necessarily remain for some time atthe level of by the action of the roller J upon the lower surface of thebeam ll said lower surface of the beam is accurately shaped to give suchmotion to the outer end of the beam as will sustain the lower plungerimmovable with its top surface flush with the top of the moldtablefor arequired time. In case the lower plungers are supported by springs oryielding supports, in the manner hereinafter described, however, suchaccurate formation of the lower edge of the beam will not be neesaidbeam which is engaged with the crank-.

pin 1 will be elevated above the crankshaft, while the weight of theupper and lower cross-heads and plungers, together with the slide-barsand. toggles, will be sustained by engagement of the lower cross-head Ewith the frame or a stop thereon. In such backward movement of the beam,therefore, the latter will be sustained by the lower crosshead,slide-bars, and toggles at one end, and by the crank-pin at its oppositeend, in such position that the beam will remain disengaged from theroller J and rocking arms J. As the crank -pin descends into theposition shown inFig. 3, at the backward limit of the throw of the beam,however, the pin II will engage the rocking arms J J before the beamreaches its horizontal position, so that the beam will begin to act toraise the lower plunger shortly before the point of greatest compressionis reached. The brick thus undergoes compression while it is movingupwardly in the mold, as hereinbefore stated. It is to be understood,however, that the point of compression may be reached before the lowerplunger begins to move upwardly from the bottom of the mold, or after ithas moved upwardly some distance therein, the point at which thegreatest compression is reached obviously depending upon the length ofthe beam II and the relative location of the several pivotal connectionsbetween the parts.

In Fig. 13 we have illustrated a construction hereinbefore referredto,in which depending pivoted arms or links are used in place of therocking arms J J. In this instance J is a heavy shaft or pin supportedin the frameplates A at opposite sides of the machine and extending overthe beam H. J 5 J 5 are heavy depending pivoted arms or links engagedwith the said shaft or pin J and with the pin ll of the beam ll. afforda moving or swinging fulcrum for the beam II as the latter is movedlongitudinally for actuating the toggles. The said links are Said linksJ J obviously -U shape in cross-section.

shown as arranged to sustain the beam throughout the entire length ofits throw. hen this construction is used, however, it will commonly benecessary to provide a movable connection between the lower plungers andthe parts by which they are directly actuatedsuch, for instance, as thathereinafter describedso that said lower plungers may remain flush withthe mold-table during the time that the bricks are being movedtherefrom. In some instances, however, the pivotal connections of thelinks may be so disposed as to give such motion to the parts that thelower plungers will be sustained therefrom at the level of themold-table a sufficient length of time to allow thebricks to be removed.

The machine shown in the drawings embraces, as a separate and furtherimprovement, certain novel features of construction in the meansconnecting the lower plungers with the parts by which the same areactuated, as follows: The said lower plungers E, instead of beingpositively or rigidly attached to the lower cross-head E, are verticallymovable with relation to said lower cross head, and said plungers aresustained from the ground or from the frame of the machine independentlyof the cross-head by means of a spring or springs orcounterbalanceweight or weights, so that said lower plungers may in certain positionsof the lower cross-head be adjusted vertically within the moldindependently of the cross-head, the said plungers, however, beingprovided with surfaces or shoulders adapted to engage the cross-head atcertain points of its movement, so that the plungers will be forciblyand positively lifted in the compression of the brick. In the specificform of these parts shown in Figs. 1, 3, 6, 7, and 8 the plungers E areprovided with vertical depending stems E, which pass throughcentrally-arranged apertures in the upper part of the cross-head E,which, in this instance, is made hollow or of inverted- At its lower endthe stem Eiis held and guided in a vertical tubular guide 0, attached toand supported upon the frame-base A. At a short distance below theplunger proper the stem E is provided with a shoulder e. Around theupper part of the said stem E and below the shoulder 6 is placed asleeve 0, provided at its top with a hand-wheel O and at its lower partwith screw-threads 0. Upon the screwthreaded lower end of the sleeve isplaced a ring or collar 0 which is held from turning with the sleeve byflat faces upon the collar engaging the side walls of the cross-head.

Otis a spiral spring placed around the stem E bearing at its upper endagainst the under surface of the collar 0 and at its lower end against astationary surface or shoulder,

herein shown as formed upon a flange 0 of the tubular guide 0. At itsupper end the sleeve 0 is provided with an outwardly-extending flange orcollar 0 constructed to engage the top surface of the cross-head E.

O is a ring or collar rigidly attached to the stem E in contact with thelower end of the sleeve 0. These parts are so arranged that the lowerplunger may eitherbe sustained by engagement of the shoulder c with thetop of the sleeve at the time when the flange 0 rests upon the top ofthe cross-head, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6, or by means of thespring 0 at the time when the cross-head is free from the said flange 0as illustrated in Fig. 7 The said spring 0 is of such strength that itwill sustain the plunger and the sleeve at times when there is nopressure upon the plunger, and the parts are so disposed that when thecross-head is at the lower limit of its movement said cross-head will befree from the flange 0 and the lower plunger will be held up by thespring, so as to bring the collar 0 in contact with the under surface ofthe cross-head, whereby the position of the plunger within the mold atthe time of filling the same is positively determined. It follows thatwhen the lower cross-head is at the lowermost limit of its movement thelower plunger will stand above the bottom of the mold, and will besupported in such position by the spring, and the purpose of thescrewconnection between the sleeve 0 and the collar 0 which immediatelyengages the spring, is to enable the said sleeve to be verticallyadjusted in the collar for the purpose of adjusting the verticalposition of the plunger within the mold at the time of filling the same.Such position of the plunger obviously determines the amount of claywhich is fed to the mold by-the feed-box. It follows that by turning thesaid sleeve at a time when the lower cross-head is depressed the lowerplunger may be adjusted in the mold to give any quantity of clay, asfound desirable or necessary, for making bricks of suit able size,according to the quantity and condition of the clay and othercircumstances. The accurate adjustment of the lower plunger willobviously be independent of the tension compressed to a considerableextent at the time the lower cross-head is at the lower limit of itsmovement and in bearing against the collar as clearly shown in Fig. '7.hen the upper plunger descends into the mold after the latter has beenfilled with clay, the approach of the upper plunger toward the lowerplunger will cause the said lower plunger to recede, the same beingsustained at this .time solely by the spring 0 The position of the partsafter the upper plunger has entered the mold is clearly shown in Fig. 7.In the downward movement of the upper plunger the clay will of course becompacted to a greater or less extent, owing to the ten sion of thespring. The downward movement beam H, as hereinbefore described.

strikes the sleeve 0, when said plunger will come to a firm andunyielding beariug'on the lower cross-head, and its further downwardmovement will be arrested. The plunger is desirably arranged to stop ata point near the bottom of the mold, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. Thecollar 0 serves to prevent the descent of the sleeve O without theplunger and stem in case the plunger sticks in the upper part of themold. The upward movement of the lower cross-head for the purpose ofcompressing the brick will preferably begin at about the time the saidlower plunger has come to bearing upon the lower crosshead, the time atwhich the plungers begin their upward movement obviously depending, inthe machine illustrated, upon the location of the rocking arms J and thepin H of the The lower plunger will obviously be lifted so as to bringits upper surface flush with the top of themold-table by the action ofthe lower cross-head, and the spring 0'' may be of such length that thecollar 0 will be lifted free from the spring at this time. In case thisconstruction is used, or in case the spring, while of sufficient lengthto remain in en gagement with the collar 0 is too weak to sustain theweight of the upper plunger when the latter is at the upward limit ofits movement, the movement of the lower cross-head must be so controlledby the shape of the lower edge of the beam H, or otherwise, that thesaid lower plunger will be held immovable in the upper part of the moldwhile the brick is being removed therefrom. Des'irably, however, thespring 0 is made of suflicient strength to sustain the lower plungerwhen the latter is at the upward limit of its movement, and in such casea stop 6 is placed on the stem E below the mold-table and above theshouldere in such position as to engage the lower surface of the tableor other stationary stop or projection upon the frame when the lowerplunger is flush with the top surface of the table. Such stop is obviously necessary in order to prevent the spring "from throwing the lowerplunger above the surface of the table, the collar 0 at the time thelower cross-head is elevated obviously being free from the same, so asto present no obstacle to the further upward movement of the lowerplunger, as will be clearly seen from an inspection of Fig. (5. When thespring is arranged to support the lower plunger level with the top ofthe table and a stop is employed to hold the plunger in this position,itis obviously not essential that the lower cross-head should remainimmovable at the upward limit of its movement for any considerablelength of time, or even that the said cross-head should lift the lowerplun- 2'61 the full length of its throw, inasmuch as the spring and stopwill sustain the lower plunger at the upward limit of its movement Whilethe brick is being removed from the plunger, even though the lowercross-head begins immediately to descend, and the spring may be ofsufiicient strength to lift the lower plunger and the brick after thebrick has been pushed nearly out of the mold. It follows that by the useof the spring and stop constructed to sustain the lower plunger at thetop of the molds any special construction in the actuating devices ofthe machine for holding the lower plungers immovablesuch, for instance,as th e cam-surface upon the lower edge of the beam H,hereinbeforereferred tomay be omitted. In the use of a spring and stop thusarrai'lged, therefore, depending pivoted arms or links J J may beemployed as the sole means of sustaining the toggle-actuating beam H,and the roller J 2 may be dispensed with, as hereinbefore described inconnection with Fig. 13 of the drawings. The employment of a spring orits equivalent and a stop arranged to support the lower plunger orplungers in the manner above stated is therefore of great importance ina machine of the character herein shown, for the reason that it rendersunnecessarya ca eful construction and adjustment of the parts to givethe exact movement and dwell required for the lower plungers, while atthe same time the life of the machine is increased, inasmuch as thewearing of the parts or bearing-surfaces by which motion given to thelower plungers will not prevent the successful operation of the machine,as will obviously occur in cases where the position of the lowerplungers with relation to the table depends solely upon the accuracy ofthe adjustment and form of the working partssuch, for instance, as thecam-surface of the beam H and the roller J One important advantagegained by the employment of a spring or yielding support for the lowerplungers arises, however, from the fact that the said plungersarethereby rendered adjustable for the purpose of giving a large orsmall capacity to the molds without in any way interfering with orrequiring any adjustment of the cross-heads by which said plungers areimmediately actuated. In some machines as heretofore made the descent ofthe lower plungers has been limited by adjustable stops placed upon theframe in position to engage the lower crosshead. In such priorconstructions it has been found difficult to accurately adjust thestops, as the stops become rapidly worn by the constant and forciblecontact of the lower crosshead therewith, so that they can seldom beretained in adjustment for any considerable length of time. In a machineconstructed as herein proposed, on the contrary, the vertical positionof the lower cross-head when at the lowermost limit of its movement maybe varied considerably without interfering with the proper operation ofthe parts, so that no accurately-adjusted stops are required to limitthe downward motion of the lower cross-. head, and elastic steps orcushions may be arranged to receive the impact of the said lowercross-head, if desired. In such prior construction, furthermore, it isobviously impossible to provide for a vertical movement of both plungersfirst downwardly and then upwardly within the molds, as occurs in theoperation of the machine described, it being entirely obvious that theupward movement of both plungers during the time compression is takingplace, which movement begins when the lower plunger is at the bottom ofthe mold, is highly advantageous for smoothing the edges and ends of thebrick, in the manner hereinbefore stated.

In carrying out that part of our invention which relates to theconstruction and actua tion of the lower plungers, said plungers maystance the lower plunger E is immediately.

sustained by a standard P, the lower surface of which is adapted to restupon the top of the cross-head E. P is a horizontally-arranged leverhaving a forked end 1), adapted for engagement with lugs or projections19' at opposite sides of the standard P. The said lever P is pivoted atp to a suitable stationary support, and upon its end remote from theplunger is placed a weight P of such size as to counterbalance theweight of the lower plunger and the parts immediately connectedtherewith. An adjustable stop 19 may be employed to limit the downwardmovement of the lever, so as to arrest the lower plunger when it reachesthe top of the mold. Verticallyarranged bolts P P inserted through thelower part of the standard P and through the cross-head E,

said bolts being provided at their ends with heads 1), may be employedas a connection between the lower cross-head and plunger for the purposeof drawing the latter downwardly against the action of the weightedlever and for retaining the said plunger in position for the insertionof clay within the mold, as hereinbefore described. The springs orweights employed to lift the lower plungers obviously counterbalance tosome extent the weight of the cross-heads and connecting parts, and atthe same time aid in forcing the brick from the mold, thereby lesseningthe power required to be exerted by the actuating devices when theplungers are being lifted.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 3, 6, 7, and 8, the sleeveis desirably fitted loosely about the stem E so that said stem is notheld from lateral movement by engagement with said sleeve, but issustained and guided solely by engagement with the interior of the moldand with the tubular guide 0. The sleeve 0' may also be desirably fittedsomewhat loosely in the cross head E. By so constructing these partsthat they .do not bear laterally upon or against the stem E we gain theadvantage of making the movement of the lower plungers entirelyindependent of lateral movement or shifting of the cross-head. In otherwords, the lower plunger will remain perfectly true, and will movevertically within the mold and retain its horizontalposition while inaction, notwithstanding any lateral shifting or movement of thecross-head, which may take place by reason of the heavy strain thereon,or by reason of the slight wearing of the slide-bar guides or otherparts, it being of course understood that the direct upward or downwardpressure coming upon the horizontal engaging surfaces of the said stemof the sleeve 0 and the crosshead will have no tendency to move theplunger or stem laterally. By reason of the advantage gained by theparticular construction set forth the features whereby the lower plungeris held in position independently of the lower cross-head, as above setforth, are herein claimed as part of our invention.

The machine herein illustrated is what is known as a two-mold machine;but the frame is made of such width as to allow the use of three or fourmolds and plungers in place of those illustrated.

Certain of the features of construction in the mold-table hereinillustrated are shown and claimed in a separate application, Serial No.295,159, filed in the Patent Office on the 2d day of January, 1889.

Ne claim as our inventionl. The combination, with a mold and plungersworking therein, of means for actuating the plungers, embracing toggle-arms connected with the opposite plungers, a crankshaft, a beamconnected with the said crankshaft and with the middle joint of thetogglearms, and a fulcrum for the beam movable with the latter in adirection endwise of the beam, substantially as described.

2. The combination, witha mold and plungers working therein, of meansfor actuating the plungers, embracing toggle -arms connected With theopposite plungers, a crankshaft, a beam connected with the saidcrankshaft and with the middle joint of the togglearms, and a fulcrumfor supporting the beam pivoted at one end upon the frame and engaged atits free end with the said beam, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a mold and upper and lower plungers workingtherein, of upper and lower cross-heads connected with the saidplungers, vertical slide-bars attached to the lower cross-head,toggle-arms connected with the said slide-bars and the upper plunger, acrank-shaft, a beam connecting the middle joint of the toggle-arms withsaid crank-shaft, and an arm pivoted at one end to the frame and engagedat its opposite end with the said beam, substantially as described.

' 4. The combination, with a mold and plungers working therein, of meansfor actuating the plungers, embracing toggle -arms connected with saidplungers, a crank-shaft, a beam connected with the shaft and with themiddle joint of the toggle-arms, a pivotallysupported fulcrum forsupporting the beam engaging said beam, and a stationary roller locatedin position to act upon the lower edge of the beam, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination, with a mold and plungers sliding therein, oftoggle-arms connected with said plungers, a crank-shaft, a beamconnecting said crank-shaft with the middle joint of the toggle-arms, apivotally-supported fulcrum engaging said beam, and a roller engagingthe beam, said beam being provided with a separate cam-block attached toits lower edge in position for contact with the roller, substantially asdescribed.

6. The combination, with the machineframe, a mold, and plungers slidingtherein, of toggle-arms connected with the said plungers, a crank-shaft,a beam connecting said crank-shaft with the middle joint of saidtoggle-arms, said beam being provided with a horizontal pin, afulcrumpivotally supported below the beam and constructed for engagement withthe pin at its upper end, and aprong extending above said fulcrum inposition to be encountered by the said pin upon the beam, substantiallyas described.

7. The combination, with the mold-table, plungers, cross-heads,toggle-arms, crank= shaft, and beam, of side frame-plates provided withintegral inwardly-projecting hubs a" d and with notches a a, receivingthe ends of the mold-table, a pin J, inserted in said hubs, and afulcrum for the support of the beam mounted upon said pin, the said sideplates being provided with integral webs a extending from the said hubsa downwardly to the said notches a a, and abutting against themold-table, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the mold-table, plungers, cross-heads, toggles,crank-shaft, and bea1n,of side frame-plates provided withinwardly-extending hubs a a a pin J inserted through the hubs andprovided with heads or nuts on its outer end, a sleeve surrounding saidpin between the hubs, and a fulcrum or support for the beam supportedupon said pin and sleeve, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the vertical side frame -plates, horizontalframe -base, and molds of a brick-machine, plungers sliding therein, andactuatin devices for the plungers located above the molds, ofamold-table consisting of two parts or castings, having the molds formedbetween their upper parts and provided with vertical webs extendingclownwardly to the frame-base, said parts being bolted to each other andto the frame-plates byihorizontal bolts, and the webs being bolted attheir lower edges to the frame-base, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with the machineframe, a mold,and upper and lowerplungers,

of upper and lower cross-heads-for actuating the plungers, the lowerplungers being movable relatively to the cross-head, and a yieldingsupport sustaining the lower plunger, whereby the same may be movedindependently of the lower cross-head, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with a mold,of upper and lower plungers slidingtherein, crossheads sustaining the plungers, said lower plunger beingvertically movable with relation to the lower cross-head, a yieldingsupport sustaining the said lower plunger independently of the lowercross-head in certain positions of the latter, and shoulders orsurfaces.

upon said lower plunger and cross head adapted to limit the relativemovement of said parts, substantially as described.

12. The coi'nbina-tion, with the mold and lower cross-head, of a lowerplunger movable vertically with relation to the cross-head, a yieldingsupport sustaining said plunger independently of the cross-head, andhorizontal surfaces or shoulders upon or connected with said plunger andacting against the crosshead to limit the movement of the plunger withrelation to the cross-head in both directions,whereby the said plungeris moved positively by the cross-head during a part of both the upwardand downward movement of the latter, substantially as described.

13. The combination, with a mold and a lower cross-head, of a lowerplunger which is movable vertically with relation to the crosshead, anda yielding support sustaining said plunger independently of thecross-head, said plunger being provided with a vertically-adjustablestop limiting the upward movement of the plunger with relation to thecross-head, whereby the position of the plunger within the mold at thetime the latter is filled may :be regulated as desired, substantially asdescribed.

1a. The combii'iation, with the mold and lower cross-head of abrick-machine, of a lower plunger provided with a vertical stem passingthrough the cross-head, and with a horizontal surface or shoulderengaging the top surface of said cross-head, and a yielding supportsustaining said plunger independently of the cross-head, substantiallyas described.

1 1 5. The combination, with the mold and lower cross-head, of a lowerplunger provided with a vertical stem passing freely through .said lowercross-head, and with a horizontal surface or shoulder engaging the topsurface of the cross-head, a yielding support for said plunger, and astationary guide upon the frame engaging the said stem, wherebytheplunger is guided by the mold and said stationary guide independently ofthe cross-head, substantially as described.

16. The combination, with the mold and lower cross-head, of a lowerplunger provided with a depending vertical stem passing through thecross-head, a sleeve surrounding said stem and provided with surfaces orshoulders adapted to engage both the plungerstem and cross-head, avertically-adjustable collar upon said sleeve, and a spring acting withan upward pressure upon said collar, said collar being adapted forengagement with the lower surface of the cross-head, substantially asdescribed.

17. The combinationpvith a mold-table pro vided with beveled surfaces,of a feed-box, vertically-arranged plates movabl y connected with thesides of the feed-box and engaging said beveled surfaces at their loweredges, and vertical set-screws inserted in the feed-

